Strand handling apparatus



Jan. 18, 1938. v JOHANNESSEN 2,105,920

STRAND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1936 22 INVL'A/I'Of? ll. LJOHANNESSEN ATM/MID Patented Jan. 18, 1938 I E STATES STRAND HANDLING APPARATUS Vaughn LuJohann'essen, OranfordpN. 3., assign- I cr to Western Electric Companmlncorporated, v New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 1 Application ember 29, lssa seri l No. 108,155

I 12 Claims. (01; 1174-21;

*This. invention rlelatesto strand handling ape par'atus and more --particularly to'an'automatic apparatus for maintaining tension in strands on a capstan'ofa 'strandworking machine upon stoppage ofthe machine;

- An object of the present inventionis to provide an'efiicientand'practical apparatus. of the character above described. 1 "in accordance with-the above object, the invention in one embodiment thereof as applied to strand working machines, for instance; strand twisting machines, in which a plurality of strands pass around a-rnultiple grooved capstan'to a point on 'themachine' where they are intertwisted, contemplates an apparatus wherein the strands are automatically clamped in their individual grooves bya pair of 'diametrically opposed rollers operated by a dashpot controlled'spring in response to a stoppage of the machine, thus preventing slackening of the 'strands on the capstan and maintaining the proper tension on'the strands between the capstan and the point of intertwisting, The rollers are normally spaced from the strands on the capstanwhen the machine is operating by the energization of asolenoid included in the electrical 'power" circuit fot 'the machine so that when the power circuit is closed, the solenoid rapidly withdraws the ela mping'rollersfrom the strands, against the action of the spring, and ho'lds themso-until the power circuit is opened whereupon the deenergization of the solenoid permits' th'e'spring to move the rollers slowly into clamping relation'wi'th the strands.

' Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following de+ tailed description, takenfin connection with'the accompanying drawing, wherein Y Fig. Lisafragmentary elevational and diet grammatic view, partly in section, of, a strand handlingapparatus embodying the features'oi the n l l me d .fl' Y i i i Y Fig. 2' is afragmentary planviewthereof. I

Reierringto the drawing, one e'mbodim'ent of the invention has been shown which is applicable to 'the handling of a plurality of parallelfstran'ds l llbeing drawn over a multiple grooved idler guide sheave II' from supply sources (not shown) of a strand working or twisting machine by a multiple grooved power driven drawing capstan drum l2, the strands travelling in individual grooves l3 and M'of the guidesheave and capstan druln H and [2, respectively, inthe direction of the arrows (Fig; l); Thestrands iil'le'aving the capstan m 12' P s h l ha Sta i n r i eube, 5 wher'ethey are bunched a'nd thencebetween freely rotatable guide pulleys [6 carried on revolving arms Hoof a twisting machine'- well known in the art and showndiagrammatically'at i8 and driven by a pulley and belt i9 which'may be connected toa power source. The machine 58 may include afsuitablegtake-up reel. and means, toidistribute the worked or twisted strands on the reel and a drive therefor (not shown). When the arms l'l' carrying the guide pulleys it are rotated about the verticalaxis ofthe twisting machine l8 and the capstan drur'niZ is drawing. the strands! from their'suppliesand delivering them to the revolving pulleysrifi, the strands .first passing through the stationary guide tube l5, itwill be evident that the strands will be intertwisted between the "tube' and the pulleys, the twisted strands being taken up under tension on the reel (not shown); Methods of driving a take-up reel through a friction clutch or the like-for applying a constant tension to the s'trand being wound are common in the art and it is believed unnecessary to illustrate this mechanismi "It also is old to mount a take-up reel in a frame which is rotated about the axis of agroup of strands being twisted; as illustrated in the patent to Bouget et a1.' 2,041,- 8 1 2; May 26, 1936. "l F Although 'the'strandsas' they are-withdrawn from the supply so'urces'are subjected to some tension by means 'of'a-tension regulating brake associated with eacl r'sup'ply'sourcefthere may be some slackening of tension between the supply andthe capstan when the machine" isstopped, To prevent slackening or-l oosening of thestrands H3 in their individual capstan drum grooves I4, Which-would result in adisturbance'of the intertwi stin the strandsbetweenthe guide tube I5 and the pulleys it due to a lessened tension in the strands between the 'cap st an drum IZ and .the point of intertwistin'g upon stoppage of thetwisting machine'particularly since the lessened tens nwould ofte be no rrro rt a j amon he individualfstrands, the followingdescribed strand handling orterision control mechanism is pro,- yidedg' Integral with a base- 26' is a hollow. frame or standard Zion which is ,l'Q l'naled a horizontal shaftj 22; the shaft having 'fixed thereto Within the standard a sprocket wheel '23 which-is driven in the 'direction of the arrow 'fromfa suitable source of 'power"(not shown) "by'a chain z l Pinnedjtofthe forward end of the shaft 'ZZ'is the multiple grooved capstan d'rum '12 formed with a plurality; inthe presentemb'odimen't; four'pehra sr res, 'ltf hei qr ae r r n w; h idler' guide sheave- I l' is likevrise'provided with four grooves I3, one for each strand. Disposed diametrically opposite to each other about the axis of the capstan drum are pivotal arms 25 fixed to shafts 26 journaled on the standard 2I. Freely journaled on the outer end of each of the arms 25 is a roller 21 which is aligned with the grooved periphery of the capstan drum I2 and of such dimensions that when moved toward the capstan drum its peripheral surface will engage each of the strands I on the capstan drum. The rollers 21 are freely journaled on the arms 2'! so that in case the rollers engage the strands I0 before the capstan drum I2 has stopped or they are not withdrawn before the capstan drum starts to rotate, the rollers will rotate freely without deleterious effect on the strands. The rollers 21 are faced on their peripheries with a suitable anti-slipping material, such as rubber, to effect a firm grip on the strands II] when engaged therewith and also to prevent marring the strands or their covering.

Upon the end of the shaft 22 opposite to the capstan drum I2 is pivotally carried a lever 28 which is operatively connected to arms 29 fixed to the shafts 26, which also carry the arms 25, by links 30, each link at one end being pivotally connected to the lever 28 the same distance from its pivotal axis, the opposite ends of the links being pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms 25. Thus, it will be apparent that the rollers 21 will be moved in unison toward and from the strands I0 on the capstan drum I2 when the lever 28 is rocked counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, about the shaft 22, the movements of the lever 28 being transmitted to the rollers by means of the links 3!] and arms 29 and 25. The outer end of the long arm of the lever 28, as indicated at 33, is pivotally connected to the upper end of a tube 34 projecting from a dashpot 35 which comprises a cylinder and a piston 36 therein which is connected to the lower end of the tube 34. A compression spring 31 below the piston tends to move the piston and tube upwardly to rock co1mterclockwise the lever 28 and. through the links 33 and arms 29 and 25 causing the rollers 27 to be drawn simultaneously into clamping engagement with the strands ID on the capstan drum I2.

For controlling the rate of speed at which the rollers 21 move into engagement with the strands Ill on the capstan drum I2 when the spring 31 is permitted to act, an adjustable oil valve 49 is included in the dashpot 35 for regulating the escape of oil from the upper side of the piston 36 to the lower side thereof during the expansion of the spring in a manner to be presently described. By adjusting the valve 40, which is carried in the tube 34 and screw threadedly connected thereto at its upper end, the escape of oil from the upper side of the piston 36 to the lower side thereof may be regulated and thereby the rateof speed at which the piston moves upwardly which, by means of the tube 34, lever 28, links 30, and arms 29 and 25, controls the movement of the rollers 21 into clamping engagement with the strands I 0.

-Also pivotally connected to the long arm of the lever 28 at a point between the adjacent link 36 and the dashpot tube 34, is the upper end of a link 4|, the lower end thereof being similarly connected to a core 420i an electrical solenoid 43. The solenoid 43 is included in the electrical power circuit for the machine which is driven by an electric motor and when the motor circuit is closed to set the machine in motion,

the circuit through the solenoid is also closed. The capstan, twister and take-up may be driven by a single motor with interconnecting gearing or by separate motors. In the latter case, it will be understood that electric power is applied to and disconnected from the motors simultaneously.

In the operation of the above described strand handling apparatus starting with the strand working or twisting machine I8 in a non-operating condition wherein the strand gripping rollers 21 are engaged with the strands ID, as shown in the drawing, the machine is set in motion by closing the circuit to the driving motor or motors. Simultaneously therewith, the solenoid 43, which is included in the motor circuit, is energized and the core 42 is rapidly drawn downwardly and the lever 28 connected thereto is rocked clockwise about the shaft 22 and through the described connections to the rollers 21, the latter are quickly withdrawn from clamping engagement with the strands Ill on the capstan drum I2.

To permit a quick displacement of oil from the lower side of the piston 36 to the upper side thereof when the core 42 and thereby the piston 36 is drawn rapidly downwardly, a check valve is provided in the dashpot 35 comprising a free or floating washer 45 surrounding the tube 34 above the piston 36 which is perforated. In the downward movement of the piston 36, the oil therebelow is forced through the perforations in the piston, the washer 45 being lifted from the piston. During an upward movement of the piston 3B, the washer 45 serves to close the perforations in the piston to the passage of oil from above the piston, the valve 40 at this time controlling the passage of oil.

By means of the pivotal connection 33 between the lever 28 and the dashpot tube 34, the dashpot spring 31 is compressed during the rocking of the lever. During the operation of the machine, the strands I!) are drawn by the capstan drum I2 from their supply sources (not shown) at the left of the idler guide sheave II, over the latter and around the capstan drum and delivered to the twisting machine l8, each of the strands travelling in its respective grooves I3 and I4 of the idler guide sheave and capstan drum I2, respectively. As long as the machine I8 is operating, the rollers 21 are disengaged from the strands I0 and the dashpot spring 31 will be held compressed. When the machine is stopped by opening the motor circuit, the circuit through the solenoid 43 will likewise be opened and the deenergization thereof releases the energy stored in the compressed dashpot spring 31 with the result that the lever 28 is rocked counterclockwise and the rollers 21 are moved slowly into clamping engagement with the strands I 0, the speed at which the rollers move being determined by the adjustment of the dashpot valve 43 in the manner previously described. Preierably, the rollers 21 should firmly engage and grip the strands I3 in their individual capstan drum grooves I4 at substantially the moment the capstan drum I2 comes to a halt, thus maintaining the proper operating tension in the strands extending around the capstan drum I2 to their points of being worked or intertwisted in spite of slackened tension in the strands between the capstan drum and the strand supply sources.

From the above description of the apparatus for controlling tension in strands on a capstan of a strand working or twisting machine upon stoppage of the machine, it will be readily seen that the strands are automatically maintained under suitable tension in the capstan grooves at all times, even though the tension on the strands between the capstan drum and the strand supply sources is slackened when the machine stops, with the result that no disturbance of the intertwist in the strands between the capstan drum and the point of intertwisting will occur when the machine is stopped.

Although the invention herein described and illustrated is particularly well adapted for use in strand twisting machines, it will be understood that the invention is capable of many other modifications and applications and is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In strand handling apparatus, a take-up means, a capstan for receiving strand material and delivering it to said take-up means, and means responsive to a stoppage of the take-up means and the capstan for maintaining the tension on the length of strand between the capstan and take-up means.

2. In strand handling apparatus, a common capstan for receiving a plurality of strands, a common take-up means for taking up strands under tension from said capstan, means for simu1- taneously clamping said strands, and means acting automatically when the apparatus is stopped to actuate said clamping means for maintaining a predetermined tension on the strand portions entering the take-up means.

3. In a strand twisting apparatus, a take-up means for twisted strands, means for twisting strands together, a capstan for receiving strands and delivering them to said twisting means, and means responsive to the stoppage of said take-up means and capstan for maintaining the tension on the lengths of strands between the capstan and take-up means.

4. In a strand handling apparatus, a capstan having a plurality of grooves for receiving separate strands, means for driving said capstan to advance said strands, and movably mounted normally ineffective means effective when the capstan is stopped for clamping the strands in said grooves.

5. In a strand handling apparatus, a capstan, means for supplying strand material to said capstan, means taking up the material under tension from the capstan, and means for clamping the material when the capstan is stopped, said means comprising a clamping element, a solenoid for moving said element in one direction, a spring for moving it in the other direction, and means for retarding one of said movements.

6. In a strand twisting apparatus, a capstan, means for supplying a plurality of strands to said capstan, means for intertwisting strands advanced by said capstan from said supply means, means for driving said capstan and twisting means, and movably mounted normally ineffective means effective when the capstan and twisting means are stopped for clamping the strands to said capstan to prevent slackness of the strands thereon and thereby preventing disturbance of the twists in the strands.

'7. In a strand handling apparatus, a capstan having a plurality of grooves for receiving separate strands, means for driving said capstan to advance said strands, and means for clamping the strands in said grooves when the capstan is stopped, said means comprising interconnected rollers arranged about the periphery of the capstan and movable in unison into and out of clamping engagement with the strands thereon, a solenoid for moving said rollers in one direction, and a dashpot for moving them in the other direction.

8. In a strand handling apparatus including means for working a strand and a capstan for moving the strand to said working means, means for rotating the capstan and driving said working means including electric motive means and an operating circuit for said motive means, and means including a movably mounted element responsive to the opening of said circuit when stopping said capstan and working means to cause said element to clamp the strand to the capstan for maintaining the tension on the length of strand between the capstan and working means.

9. In a strand handling apparatus including means for working a strand and a capstan for moving the strand to said working means, means for rotating the capstan and driving said working means including electric motive means and an operating circuit for said motive means, means mounted for movement relative to said capstan for clamping the strand thereto, and means for moving said latter means into clamping engagement with the strand on said capstan in response to the opening of said circuit when stopping said capstan and working means for maintaining the tension on the length of strand between the capstan and working means.

10. In a strand handling apparatus including means for working a strand and a capstan for moving the strand to said working means, means for rotating the capstan and driving said working means including electric motive means and an operating circuit for said motive means, and means responsive to the opening and closing of said circuit when stopping and starting said capstan and working means to clamp the strand to said capstan for maintaining the tension on the length of strand between the capstan and working means upon stoppage thereof and for unclamping the strand when the capstan and working means are started when the circuit is closed.

11. In a strand handling apparatus, including means for working a strand and a capstan for moving the strand to said working means, means for rotating the capstan and drivingsaid working means including electric motive means and an operating circuit for said motive means, means movable to and from the strand on said capstan for clamping and unclamping the strand to the capstan, and means including an electric solenoid in said circuit responsive to the closing and opening of the circuit when starting and stopping said capstan and working means to move the clamping means from the strand upon starting the capstan and working means and moving the clamping means to clamp the strand to the capstan when the capstan and working means are stopped for maintaining the tension on the length of strand between the capstan and working means.

12. A device for clamping strand material against a capstan, comprising a movable support, a roller freely journaled on said support on an axis parallel to the axis of the capstan, and means for moving the support to bring the roller into engagement with the strand material.

VAUGHN L. JOHANNESSEN. 

